Day 1 : Istanbul

Meet at the Istanbul Ataturk Int. Airport with Demavend Travels representative and drive to the Hotel, located in the historical centre of Istanbul, known as Sultanahmet.Transfer time: 30 min.; transfer distance: 18 km; (Istanbul Ataturk Int. Airport – Hotel)ON: in Istanbul at the HotelMeals: – / – / –

Day 2 : Istanbul – Sightseeing historical peninsula

Istanbul, formerly known as Constantinople, was the hub of the Ottoman Empire, and many of the grand buildings of this period are present today. You could easily spend a week in this city and still not have seen all the sites. Today we will explore the old Sultanahmet Area, known as historical peninsula. We take time to visit Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Hippodrome Square and the Grand Bazaar (Kapali Carsi).The Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque) was built between 1609 and 1616. The design of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque is the culmination of two centuries of both Ottoman mosque and Byzantine church development. It incorporates some Byzantine elements of the neighbouring Hagia Sophia with traditional Islamic architecture and is considered to be the last great mosque of the classical period.The Hagia Sophia is a former Orthodox patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, and now a museum. From the date of its dedication in 360 until 1453, it served as the cathedral of Constantinople, except between 1204 and 1261, when it was converted to a Roman Catholic cathedral. The building was a mosque from 1453 until 1931, when it was secularized. It was opened as a museum on February 1935.The Topkapi Palace was the primary residence of the Ottoman Sultans for approximately 400 years of their 624 year reign. As well as a royal residence, the palace was a setting for state occasions and royal entertainments. It is now a major tourist attraction and contains important holy relics of the Muslim world, including Muhammad’s cloak and sword. The Topkapi Palace is among the monuments contained within the “Historic Areas of Istanbul”, which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.The Hippodrome of Constantinople was a circus that was the sporting and social centre of Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire. Today it is a square named Sultanahmet Meydani (Sultan Ahmet Square) and largely follows the ground plan and dimensions of the now vanished Hippodrome. The surviving monuments of the Spina (the middle barrier of the racecourse), the two obelisks (Obelisk of Thutmose III & Walled Obelisk) and the Serpentine Column, now sit in holes in a landscaped garden.The Grand Bazaar (Covered Bazaar/Kapali Carsi) in Istanbul is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 3,000 shops which attract between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily.ON: in Istanbul at the HotelMeals: B / – / –

After breakfast we continue our fascinating Tour through Istanbul, we take time to explore the city with a Boat Tour on the Bosphorus, explore Kadikoy district on the Asian side and visit Chora (Kariye) Museum.Bosphorus tour by Boat (Public Tour / approximately 3 h): Exploring Istanbul by boat, known as Bosphorus tour and right through the heart of Istanbul. The Bosphorus is a 32 km (20-mile) long strait which joins the Sea of Marmara with the Black Sea in Istanbul and separates the continents of Europe and Asia. The Bosphorus, also known as the Istanbul Strait, as part of the only passage between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, has always been of great commercial and strategic importance. The most impressive sights along the shores of the Bosphorus are the Topkapi Palace, the Bosphorus Maiden’s Tower (Kız Kulesi) and Dolmabahce Palace, several Ottoman palaces, fortresses, forested hills and shore villages with Ottoman architecture.In the afternoon we take take the Ferry from Eminonu/Sirkeci to Kadikoy on the Asian Side: Kadikoy is a busy shopping district, with a wide variety of atmospheres and architectural styles. Kadikoy has many narrow streets filled with cafés and restaurants; the market area is mostly closed to traffic and contains a wide variety of traditional Turkish restaurants and patisseries, wine houses & bars (pubs) with jazz and folk music and behind the centre with a large shopping district.Later the day we visit Chora (Kariye) Museum; (Church of the Holy Saviour in the Country) is considered to be one of the most beautiful surviving examples of a Byzantine church. The Church originally was built as part of a monastery complex outside the walls of Constantinople, in the 16th century; during the Ottoman era the church was converted into a mosque and finally, it became a museum in 1948. The interior of the building is covered with fine mosaics and frescoes; which are the most beautiful examples dating from the last period of the Byzantine painting.In the late afternoon/early evening it is also possible to visit Taksim & Beyoglu squares, major shopping, tourist and leisure district famed for its restaurants and shops and considered as the heart of modern Istanbul.ON: in Istanbul at the HotelMeals: B / – / –

Price Excludes– All International and Domestic Flights– Travel insurance– Extra Transports and transfers other than stated in the Itinerary– All kind of Soft and Alcoholic drinks, Bottled Water, Tea & Coffee– Meals other than stated in the Itinerary– All kind of personal expenses– All kind of Entrance fees for historical and natural sites– All kind of optional activities– Extra Nights– Single supplements– Personal Equipment– Tips